Each week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView. During the week of August 16-22, 2009, a review of these key indictors found that influenza activity is either stable, or is increasing in some areas. Activity appears to be increasing in the Southeast based on influenza-like illness data reported by health care providers. South Carolina Health and Environmental Control, Epidemiologist Dr. Robert Ball says he believes in this region of the country people are more likely to live and work in close quarters.  He encourages the following to help stop the spread of germs:

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing

Wash with soap and water.
or
Clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.